Hi All,

I plan to build a Quadcopter with the following specifications:

1. S500 Frame with CF landing gear
2. Naza-M V2 Flight Controller
3. Orange 3000 mAh 3S 30C LiPo battery
4. SunnySky X2216 880KV Motors
5. 11 Inch Propellers

I am looking for a suitable 30A OPTO ESC's to go with this build, but I am not able to shortlist one so far. I was looking at DJI 30A OPTO ESC's, but they all seem to be out of stock! I am also looking at 30A OPTO ESC's with SimonK firmware. Can anyone suggest me a good one with links? Tank you in advance.

I'd suggest 30A BLheli ESCs. You can go either for Emax or DYS. Both of them are good.

The setup is pretty good, and I'd recommend replacing the Orange pack with Turnigy, Zippy or Tattu. I found them unreliable. 'Personal views only'.

Thanks Aravind for the reply. Regarding batteries, yes, I am planning an upgrade soon.

But I was told by some experts in the US Hobby RC area that when we're talking about Naza-M V2, everything we know about ESCs goes out the window. According to them, Naza-M and DJI software, in general, do NOT play nice with BLHeli firmware. So they are all recommending OPTO ESC's with SimonK firmware to go along with Naza-M

Anyone with some other suggestions? The best ESC's to go alongside Naza-M V2.

If that's the case, then go for Simonk. Although they are not as responsive as BLheli, they should coup well with Naza.

How about buying the Turnigy 30A plush ESC, and modifying the firmware? The hardware is really good, and you'd just need the SimonK software, which is easily accessible.

Turnigy 30A plush ESC looks like a good quality one, even though everywhere it seems out of stock! but I am not familiar with programming/updating the firmware. Is that easy? I guess I need to buy some connection module to plug to the ESC and to the computer? If you don't mind, can you please give any pointers/links regarding updating this to SimonK?

I stumbled upon this video --->

Looks a bit scary, but hope it will be worth it. However, wish the ESC came factory loaded with SimonK firmware!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O74-AtgwDmYoWErgZocGJnhkJ8qgFJRrvQI3IYQctDk/edit?pli=1&pli=1#gid=0

Will this be little helpful? Seems a full test report.

A good compilation...but trying to make some sense out of it 

Hey Manoj! You can flash the ESC with an Arduino (if you have one).

It's a link from Oscar Liang's blog: https://oscarliang.com/flash-esc-simonk-firmware-arduino-without-usbasp/

Hope you find that useful

Hey! Forgot to mention, see if it's the latest SimonK software. You'll be able to know that at Github page, maybe check the date.

The statement by Oscar Liang "However, despite all the goodies, firmware flashing involves risk of damaging ESC permanently, therefore do it at your own risk." is really scary!  

I have an Arduino, but this looks cumbersome and the risk of permanently damaging ESC is also there. Let me think about this option first and I hope I will be able to come to a rational and logical decision.

Yeah, it'd true. If you do it wrong, you will damage the ESC. Again, you can fix that with a bunch of FETs. And if you're able to do so, you would not require an outsourced ESC in the first place. PS: you can make your own.

But if you're a beginner, go for a ready-made one. Emax SimonK 30A is available, and it's dirt cheap. You may try that.

Okay, I think for the time being I will go for the Emax 30A ESC's with factory flashed SimonK firmware till I get hold of a proper OPTO ESC or the DJI ESC's themselves. I will pull the red +ve wire from the connector first before plugging to my Naza.

I wish I could make the ESC's myself, but I have never come across a person so far who has done that successfully for a quadcopter or anything for that matter. Yes, experimental prototypes were made, but they are all bigger in size and weight and is not visually appealing too   So guess I will stick with readymade SMD ESC's for now.

Thank you so much for the inputs.

Oh and BTW, the Emax ESC's cost a little above Rs. 1000/-...not exactly dirt cheap

You must have visited the wrong store. They usually sell at ~Rs.600/piece.

https://www.banggood.com/Emax-Simonk-Series-12A-20A-25A-30A-40A-ESC-For-Quadcopter-QAV-250-p-918126.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN

Here's an OPTO 30A, but BLheli configured.

https://www.banggood.com/EMAX-BLHeli-Series-6A-12A-20A-30A-ESC-p-963634.html?rmmds=search&ID=45173&cur_warehouse=CN

Banggood recently made some price changes, and it's observable. That's why the price of the ESC is a little high.

Quote from: on February 22, 2018, 10:02:30 AM

but I have never come across a person so far who has done that successfully for a quadcopter or anything for that matter. Yes, experimental prototypes were made, but they are all bigger in size and weight and is not visually appealing too

Here's a diy version. You can very well minimize the design.



Here's another video from GreatScott:

I was referring to an Indian site --> https://robu.in/product/emax-simon-k-series-multirotor-30a-brushless-esc-original/

Banggood takes up about 20-30 days for delivery I think. Let me check. Also in banggood, the cost of 30A ESC is Rs. 800 not the amount you are referring to and also is Out of Stock!

I have seen this video earlier  Really interesting though.

I had mentioned the price hike at BG. Previously, the Emax ESCs were sold at around Rs.600-700.

And yeah, you can try robu.in. So, you won't have to worry about service issues. They'll replace if you receive a bad product.

Yeah, I have purchased quite a few items from Robu.in and they are very good to deal with. Fast and clean shipping and we get reward points too. A bit expensive compared with other sites like Aliexpress, Banggood, etc. but you get the items in 3-4 days almost anywhere in India.

It's funny someone talk about the quality of ESCs . I have had a whole lot of ESCs, from the Top brands to the brandless cheap China ones , They all work the same and none of them has  ever got damaged. I even have an 4 year Avionic 30 amp ESC which I had punished to the extremes. If you want an ESC , buy one which has the firmware you like. What I can say about SimonK and BLHeli is that , they are like Ardupilot Mega and Pixhawk. SimonK like Ardupilot Mega is out of date and old , but it is tried and tested and works pretty great. BLHeli is like Pixhawk, it is newer , has got many great features but since it's new , there are bugs. Hope you understand.

Hey..thank you for the post regarding ESC's. I know you are commenting from your experience, although I have always thought the branded popular ones were having good quality FET's instead of cheap components, but you might be right. I have anyway ordered emax 30A ESC's with factory flashed firmware.